Santa Picture

Christmas Season

'Tis the Season! Anyhow who knows Mommy Meyer knows she loves Christmas! We took Ella to the Festival of Trees today. She loved the dancers and music. She even sat with Santa and got a picture with no tears. I know, the tears come next year. The "real" looking Santa came as we walked out...







Our tree is up and a Ella even helped decorate it with her first ornament from Grandma Mary and Grandpa Gary. She loves looking at the tree.



To view the short clips, click on the > button.

My cousins!!!

Ella finally met her cousins on Ed's side. We had Ed's mom, Gary, Dawn, Sherri, and their kids come for Thanksgiving. It was a great time. Ella, nor I, has never seen so many games played in 3 days! From UNO, to wii, it was quite the adventure.

Christmas was in the air early as well! Ella opened up Christmas presents...well, she sure liked the sound of the wrapping paper:)

Ella has two teeth and we believe a third coming in. She is rolling everywhere and maybe wanting to crawl. She loves music and when we clap. Ella loves her some Hawkeye too. He is still warming up to that.

Enjoy the pictures!

Opening a present...just happened to be DAWN's team on a jersey...


Ella loves her Hawkeye...


Proud Mom and Grandma...


Just like the day after Christmas playing with my new toys...


Ella and her cousins...

Happy Halloween!

Ella had a fabulous Halloween. She enjoyed being a butterfly (Old Navy $5 special). She really enjoyed watching the chiminea more than she did watching the other kids trick or treat. We didn't go to any houses. We just ventured to Ana and Justin's driveway and enjoyed our Salem Woods Family.






Of course Ella was a hit!

And this was our awesome pumpkin.


Mom had fun carving it. Dad's not into carving yet. Once the littliest Meyer is, I am sure he will be.

Ella has also started getting teeth! Today is the first day that I can say teeth:) Her first one started coming in about 2 weeks ago. She had a fever and was VERY fussy. Ed and I were pretty excited to go back to work on Monday after her awesome behavior. We are so very spoiled because she is such a good baby. When she gets upset, we aren't used to it and we just want to cry too!

We've been spending time at the store, helping daddy get the business together. Ella is very calm there. I wonder if the smell of hops, malt, and grain is intoxicating to her:) We know it's not...

Ella will be EIGHT months on the 16th! WOW!

Football Buddies

It's official. Ed has himself a football buddy. Ella enjoyed sitting next to him watching the Falcons win. She wore Falcons gear today and they actually WON! WoW! Daddy says she needs Cowboys gear...they don't need the help like the Falcons do.









Tonight Ella showed off in the bath...



Life is good! We are enjoying Ella's new sounds, which include Dah Dah Dah Dah...Yep, no Mah Mah's yet. She doesn't know what she's saying yet, but when she does, watch out Ed!

So big at 6 months

Ella is officially a big girl! She weighed in at 18 and a half pounds and 27 and three quarters for height! She is the size of a 9 month old!

The doctor says that at 9 months, we can get her blocked tear duct taken care of. I didn't realize that they had to put her asleep for that. I don't know how I would have thought they did do it.

Real solids...kind of

Ella is really growing and making all sorts of noises. Still trying to get her to say "Mama" but no luck yet. Since she looks just like her dad, she will probably say "Dada" first. Ed pointed out that while saying "Mama" would be cool, I wouldn't think it was cool if she woke up in the middle of the night screaming it. Point taken...

We go to the doctor on Friday. We can't wait to see how much Ella weighs. We will definitely give you updates.

Here is a picture of Ella enjoying cantelope. This little thing is the most awesome thing. She really gets things chopped down. So far, Ella has only had cantelope and honeydew melon for "real food" and that is just with the chomp job she does with the cool thing that doesn't let her swallow whole.

We are still here...

My, when you work you hardly have any time with a little one around! Ella is getting so big! She goes for her 6 month check up on the 19th. Can't wait to see how big she is!

Ella is VERY curious and putting everything in her mouth. Luckily she hasn't found anything too dangerous...



Books a becoming a fast favorite. This is one of her favorites as it lights up and sings. Mommy sings too, but I think she likes the book voice better. No comments from the peanut gallery on that one...She is also sitting up for short bouts of time.



Ella sits up like a big girl, sort of.



Of course she loves to smile, but as soon as the shiny camera comes out, she gets distracted.



And, Ella has been a great diner in restaurants. Her favorite...Wild Wing:)

Ella's First Day of Day Care

Ella managed to get through her first day of day care. Hey, did you think she wouldn't? Ha, we know it's harder for the mom than the baby. Ed, thankfully, will be dropping Ella off in the mornings. This morning was rough for me and Ed was so sweet about it. Anyhow, the folks at the Lighthouse Academy loved Ella (what else would they really tell you) and said she had a good day. She must have had fun, this is 15 minutes into being home...



Ella is really eating cereal well and loves to sit like a big girl to eat. And...SHE IS SLEEPING LIKE A BIG GIRL UNTIL 6:15am!



The last few weeks of my summer break, we enjoyed lots of tummy time and Ed put together the exersaucer. Ella is starting to like that more.



In this picture, she is looking at herself in the mirror...future diva...



Ella is grabbing toys and putting them in her favorite place, her mouth. I don't know who got her this butterfly toy, but it is one of her favorites.


Ella will be five months on the 16th! Wish us luck in out first few days at day care. Mommy needs it:)

Ella's First Bites

So, Ella was cleared for cereal today:) She weighed 14 pounds, 12 ounces! The nurse who measured her said 26 inches...I remeasured when the nurse left and she is 24 inches! She is about the size of a 5 month old.

Dr. McGee says go ahead and try some cereal so that's just what we did.

First bites...


Dad's helping me...


I want to try by myself...


I am almost done...


I SAID I AM DONE!!!


All in all, she seemed to like it. Of course Ella didn't "eat" much, but she enjoyed pushing it around with her tongue.

Now everyone cross their fingers that Ella will start sleeping through the night (again):)

Ella's Smiling...

She's been smiling for quite awhile. The only pictures we have of her smiling are these pictures with my Grandma Ava. She must have some touch...well, I guess after six kids you would have that touch:)



This isn't the best picture of my Granmda Ava, but Ella's smiling:)

Other Iowa Fun

Of course we got over to see the Clausens. We sure miss Pat and Mary. Of course we had a great time over at their house and Pat had an awesome BBQ.

Here is Mary with Ella, practicing those skills:)




My dad got on the piano for dueling pianos at Nan's Piano bar at the Freight House. Great time if you are looking for something dofferent to do!



We can't leave Hawkeye and Brewster out. Hawkeye is the lighter one with the floppy ears.

And I will try harder to keep up with this:) Thanks to all of you who always ask if we have updated the blog.

Extra 4th of July

Anessa and Holly were able to come for this year's 4th of July celebration, which was great. We sure do miss them.

Julie, Jessica, and Chris came to celebrate also. How fun with people we haven't seen for so long!?!? We miss them too as well as all of you that we weren't able to see. If only we could get everyone up to Riverdale for the 4th.

Pony rides were a huge hit.
Here is Anessa...


Here is KJ...


Here is Jordan...


Coolest thing ever...

Ella's First Parade

Ella successfully completed her first 4th of July Parade. She was wonderful...she slept through the whole thing:) Jordan loved pushing her in the parade.


It was a family affair. My dad rode his Harley in the parade with Mrs. Stickler on the back and my mom was Betsy Ross, for yet the second year.




We kind of became our own parade as the kids wanted to pick up all the candy that was being thrown. We still had fun. And, what is up with Hawkeye being the only one to look at the camera?